Florida’s engineers applaud legislature for agreeing to strengthen Florida’s water infrastructure resiliency

$50 million funding plan for water storage north of Lake Okeechobee is key to restoring Florida’s Everglades

Posted 4/29/21

Florida Engineering Society (FES) applauds the Florida Legislature for agreeing to provide $50 million for ASRsok

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Florida’s engineers applaud legislature for agreeing to strengthen Florida’s water infrastructure resiliency

$50 million funding plan for water storage north of Lake Okeechobee is key to restoring Florida’s Everglades

Posted

TALLAHASSEE — The American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC-FL) and the Florida Engineering Society (FES) applaud the Florida Legislature for agreeing to provide $50 million for water storage north of Lake Okeechobee. Addressing water flows north of Lake Okeechobee is a key strategy for restoring Florida’s Everglades.

This ACEC-FL and FES priority legislation will help keep lake levels from rising too high in the wet season and make water available for release in the dry season. Using Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) technology, it will create the operational flexibility necessary to help maintain lake levels that are ideal for the lake’s ecology, and help ensure adequate water supply for users around the lake.

“This is exactly the type of technology that’s needed to continue safely and effectively restoring Florida’s Everglades, Lake Okeechobee and our delicate coastal estuary systems,” said Allen Douglas, Executive Director, Florida Engineering Society and American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida. “Special thanks to Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls for their leadership on this much-needed environmental stewardship effort.”

The $50 million will help implement the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project (LOWRP) north of Lake Okeechobee – expediting construction of storage capacity using ASR technology.

“Florida can cost-effectively manage the flow of water into Lake Okeechobee, supporting Everglades restoration, and reduce 80 percent of the harmful discharges to the estuaries by implementing these planned ASR wells,” said professional engineer and FES member David Pyne.

Lawmakers are expected to fully pass the 2021-2022 state budget tomorrow during the last regularly scheduled day of the 2021 Legislative Session.

water storage, north, lake, everglades, legislature, ACEC-FL, FES, lawmakers, budget

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